We’ll go ahead and say it: last year’s Transformers: War for Cybertron was the best Transformers game ever. That the same team of devs at High Moon Studios started almost immediately on the third Transformers movie game is a mixed blessing. They’ve proven that they understand the franchise, but a movie tie-in feels beneath them. You can sense glimmers of a solid adventure here, but Dark of the Moon never totally shakes the mediocrity of the movie-game genre.

For those who hate the films, you’ll be happy to hear that Dark of the Moon’s original story ignores the movie plot, instead bridging the second and third films. It’s pretty straightforward: while Autobots are scouring the globe for the Decepticons, Megatron’s team tries to regroup after their most recent defeat. The plot features none of the lame humans from the movies, and the sole non-Transformer is a military liaison played by voice-acting superstar Nolan North. Sadly, while the narrative is distinct and true to the characters, it’s ultimately a preview of the third film, so it never feels weighty enough.

The globe-trotting tale creates several interesting levels for running and gunning, as you’re alternately an Autobot or Decepticon (no separate campaigns this time around). The shooting is satisfying and unchanged since War for Cybertron, although the level layout is less inventive. Because Dark of the Moon is a cover-based shooter with no cover mechanic, you spend lots of time (especially in boss fights) standing behind unnaturally large pillars as you wait for your health to regenerate. By the later levels — particularly the already-monotonous IV and VI — the standard combat wears out its welcome.

Fortunately, the new Stealth Force mode livens up the battles to some degree. A third transformation between robot and vehicle, Stealth Force basically makes your bot a tank that strafes with ease. It’s a great mode and mostly makes up for the standard vehicle controls feeling like a sub-par racing game. Meanwhile, multiplayer offers up a perfunctory diversion, with standard deathmatch and leveling filling in the void left by the exclusion of Cybertron’s fun, frenetic Horde-mode variation.

High Moon clearly did all they could, but ultimately, Dark of the Moon is a small package with too much filler to be worth more than a rental. Though we’re betting it’s still better than the film it’s based on.

On Xbox 360

+ Starts off strong; a lot of the solid controls and gameplay remain from the far superior War for Cybertron 2.

+ Stealth Force mode should be in all future Transformers games.

- Last few levels drag down into Dullsville; multiplayer feels a little too rote; stripped-down feel.

? Where’s War for Cybertron 2?

6.5